Thursday, August 23, 2012

Over the next couple weeks we will be inundated with political conventions. Then the real campaigning for the presidency begins and politics will take over all media. So over the next couple weeks I am going to highlight a few picture books about voting and running for president. We might as well have a little fun with it.“Madam
President”By Lane SmithFor
Ages 5- 10

Text and visual comedy marry to
deliver a steady dose of political satire even young elementary school children
will enjoy in Lane Smith’s “Madame President.” Rated 4.5 (politics, humor, government)

Katy explains the ins and outs of
being the president with refreshing candor and behaves as if she is not going
to become the president, but already is the president. At one point she attends
the “state funeral” of a pet frog and turns an oral report into a press
conference. Humorous attitude is plentiful in this romp such as when Katy wields her veto power over tuna casserole. One bit that stuck with me was the lyrics for “Hail to
the Chief.” I love when they praise “her rad administration.

Not unlike Smith’s “John, Paul,
George and Ben,” this tale knows how to have fun with politics. So much so that it will
make members of both major parties laugh… and their children too.

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